Current Research

I am currently working on my PhD dissertation on the behavioral ecology and conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. My special interest and a major goal in behavioral ecology is to understand the relationship between ecology, sociality and space use behavior. Variation in ecological, social and demographic factors across habitats and populations may lead to intraspecific variation in space use patterns. Gorillas are an interesting species for investigating variation in space use patterns as they are non-territorial and hence have overlapping home ranges and face variation in both food resources and their social environment.

In my dissertation, I am trying to understand the relative importance of ecological and social factors on gorillas’ space use behavior and home range partitioning of neighboring gorilla groups on different scales. Additionally, I am investigating the ecological factors influencing gorillas’ ranging outside the protected area and crop raiding behavior in order to help in guiding management strategies for this critically endangered species.

During the data collection period, I was working with Ugandan research and field assistants. This project provided capacity building as well as income for local people around the park, which is, in my opinion, a crucial component to the conservation efforts of the endangered mountain gorilla.